US982494A - Electrolytic alternating-current rectifier. - Google Patents

Description

A S. HIGKLEYH ELECTROLYTIC ALTERNATING CURRENT RECTIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1908.

maemedl Jan 1911 To all whom it may concern:

U ITED s'rATEs PATENTOFFICE;

ARTHUR s. HICKLEY, or MANASQUAN, NEW JERSEY, assreivon To come ELECTRICAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF JERSEY.

ELECTROLYTIC ALTEBNA'rmG-GURRENT "RECTIF ER,

,Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. HIoKnn'Y,

' a subject of the King of'Great Britain, re-

siding at Manasquan, in the county of Moir.

mouth and State of New Jersey, have-invented certain new and useful Improve ject the maintenance of formation, that is,

the retention of the hydroxid ofaluminium upon the active electrode when direct current is not being used.- In using electrolytic rectifiers in the ordinary way, there is an appreciable time necessary for the formation of the hydroxid before the cell will rectify, but this when once formed, it a small the cell flow of current is maintained, keeps active and ready for instant work. It often happens thatthe time consumed in forming the hydroxid isgreater than can be allowed "and even a small reverse current would. be

fatal to the successful operation of certain instruments tion.

111 ordinary requiring direct current excitapractice, when alternating current is rectified to direct current by inis dissolved, or passes off, and upon againclosing the circuit, alternating current passesfor a short time, until the hydroxid is formed and rectification again takes place, and direct currentis obtainable. One way to correct this, has been to connect a cell or number of cells of the accumulator type across the direct current terminals, when sufficient current passesto keep these cells charged and at the same time maintain the acting properties in the rectifier. That is however not only expensive when a large number of cells are required, as is the case on high voltage, but the current used to keep the cells charged is considerable. Furthermore, it is detrimental to the cells to continue to pass currentthrough them after Specification of Letters ma. Application filed June 2 6-,'1908 Serial No. 440,503.

tery', arc-light, X ray apparatus or thelike,

Patented Jan. 24, 1911.

they are charged. It is my purpose to overcome both of these-'difiiculties and objections.

The rectifier of my'construction is always in an active condition andgready to work the instant it is required to deliver direct current. Such a small amount of current is passed when no. direct current is being drawn that it is negligible To accomplish .these ends,- I connect two rectifiers, or one rectifier made double, so that one rectifier acts in opposition to the other,v that is to say, although the current could pass through the one, it would be impeded by the other. But if any apparatus, such as a motor, batis"connected so as to spanone of these cells, the current which is impeded by that cell passes through this apparatus and the other a cell does the rectifying.

' The invention consists in certain improve ments, which will be fully disclosed in the following specification and claims. I In the accompanying drawings, whichi'or'm part of this specification:-Figure' 1 represents a top plan view of my improved rectifier'flin which two cells are electrically connected in opposition'to each other, the non-active electrodes being connected respectively to the alternating current main lines. Fig. 2a like view in which the active.

electrodes are connected to the alternating. current main lines. F g. 3 a hke view of a are connected together electrically and me.- chanically, the active electrodes in each cell connected respectively to the alternating current main lines. Fig. l a like view in which one double cell and. two single cells are shown, thetwo active electrodes of the single cells connected to the alternating current main lines and the non-active electrodes of the single cells connected to the active" electrodes of the double cells respectively.

. Reference being had to the drawings and the designating characters thereon, the numerals 1, 2 indicate the main-lines respectively of an alternating circuit, 3, 3 indicate the cells for containing a suitable elecmodified construction, in which the two cells trolyte, such as phosphate :of. soda, and said I Each cell 3 is provided with an active electrode 5, preferably of aluminium or one of its alloys and cell 3 is provided with an electrode 5, and these electrodes are electrically connected together by awire 6. The cells 3, 3 and the hollow members 1 are made of iron or its equivalent, and each cell is connected to the main lines 1, 2 respectively by wires 7 and 7, as shown in Fig. 1.

8 indicates a motor or other electrical device, connected through wire 9, switch 10, wire 11 and wire 6", with the active electrodes 5 and 5, and wires 12 and 7 connecting with main wire 2.

\Vhen the switch-1Q is open, as shown, current from the main line 1 has a path through wire 7 to cell 3, to electrode 5, through wire (3, to electrode .5, where it is practically stopped by the formation of hydroxid of aluminium on the electrode 5. \Vhen the reverse impulsefrom line 2 endeavors to pass through thefpath 7, cell 3, electrode 5 and wire 6, it is stopped by the hydroxid of aluminium formed on the electrode 5 in the cell 3, thus there is practically no passage of either impulse. On closing switch 10, a path is provided from line 1, through wires 7, cell 3, electrode 5, wire 9, switch 10, wire 11, electrical device 8, wires 12 and 7 to main line 2, thereby operating the electrical device 8.

In the construction shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 the main lines 1, and 2 are connected to the two active electrodes, instead of to the non-active electrodes as in Fig. 1. This is preferable for the reason that there is less liability to leakage to the ground, as the two main lines are practically insulated by the formation of hydroxid of aluminium on the two active electrodes to which'they are con-' nected.

In Fig. 2 the non-active electrodes or hollow members 4 are connected by wire 6; in

Fig. 3 a continuous mechanicalconnection is made between the two cells 3, 3 by a con: tinuous hollow member 4.

It is obvious that supplemental non-active over one hundred and fort volts; when the two sets of cells connecte in series act. as two valves, one set on each main line, but are connected together in electrical opposition as inthe foregoing figures.

In the several forms shown, the cell which is spanned by the electrical device also acts as a condenser, tending to eliminate any reverse current which may be present and pro duces a smoother flow of direct current than;

is ordinarily obtained.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. v Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- '1. The combination of electrolytic elements connected in opposition and a circuit elementsof like polarity.

2.- The combination of electrolytic elements connected in opposition 'and a circuit provided with translating devices bridging elements of like polarity, and means for .making and breaking said circuit.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR S. HICKLEY.

\Vitnesses D. (I. Rumorin, \V. Inuurn RniNouL. t

provided with translating devices bridging

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